Augusta dream alive for Ross, Mehaffey and Wilson
Olivia Mehaffey during a practice round ahead of the 2018 Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
Clandeboye’s Jessica Ross, Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey and Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson remain on course to play at Augusta National as they qualified for the matchplay stages of the 115th Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at a scorching Hillside.
But there was disappointment for Kanturk’s Mairead Marin, Lisburn’s Paula Grant and Lahinch’s Sinead Sexton as they missed the 10-over par cut.
Ross qualified in 20th place on five over after a one-under 71 with Mehaffey and Wilson a shot further back after rounds of 72 and 76 respectively
Sweden’s Elin Esborn produced a fine round of 70 in the searing heat of Southport to finish as leading qualifier on one-under-par, edging out Germany’s Esther Henseleit and France’s Elodie Chapelet for the honour on countback.
Mehaffey will play Jessica Hall, Ross takes on Caitlin Whitehead as Wilson meets Yuka Saso from the Phillippines.
The winner receives exemptions into the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open, the 2018 Evian Championship, the 2019 US Women's Open and the 2019 Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship.
Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Hillside (Par 72)
Qualifiers
20 ROSS, Jessica (Clandeboye) +5 78 71 149
29 MEHAFFEY, Olivia (Royal Co. Down Ladies) +6 78 72 150
34 WILSON, Annabel (Lurgan) +6 74 76 150
Non-qualifiers
85 MARTIN, Mairead (Kanturk) +12 78 78 156
93 GRANT, Paula (Lisburn) +13 79 78 157
108 SEXTON, Sinead (Lahinch) +14 78 80 158